Buying a new jointer

I have the ridgid, it has served me well. I got mine when the local HD was clearing them out. Plus I used the HF 20% off coupon. I am not sure if you can find one locally, but I think they can be a bargain, if you can scare one up.

Using a jointer in millwork is a mastery skill. There’s a lot to it. You
have to train your eye to look at the wood and you also have to
learn to feel the cut and understand how your using the tool.

The jointer is a machine you use to sculpt the edge of a board straight.
You can also sculpt it concave or convex pretty easily. The tables
being straight doesn’t automatically transfer to the wood – the
skilled operator makes it happen.

It does in fact take a lot of practice. Even when working with a jointer
I often carry boards to my bench to work on areas tricky areas with a
handplane, then back to the jointer for one final pass.

You’ll never get the results you want from a jointer just pushing
the wood across it. You have to study the effect of every cut and
plan how you’re going to use what the jointer does to straighten
your boards.

That’s poetry, Loren, absolutely.

Beautifully, musically, artistically said.

Kindly,

Lee

-- "...in his brain, which is as dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd with observation, the which he vents in mangled forms." --Shakespeare, "As You Like It"

Go here look at info ,click links, watch videos, this my help
http://lumberjocks.com/topics/26181

-- E J ------- Always Keep a Firm Grip on Your Tool

I have the Ridgid and it is a well built machine. I looked at others that cost much more, but the Ridgid pretty much had what they had at less cost.

Loren is spot on. While you can get pretty decent results to start with, it really takes a bit of milling and checking and experimenting to get that feel for what the board needs to get it really flat.

It is important to have a nice flat surface for referencing. I have a granite top on my TS so I use that.

wow Loren. The “ZEN” of the jointer.

There’s always adjustments to a jointer. Even if you have to make your own shims to make it so.

-- "The way to make a small fortune in woodworking- start with a large one"

AhhhOhmm…

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."

Miles, I’m not 100% sure on saying this. But on the jet the I own I don’t think there is a place to shim it. I called Jet and they sent me an email showing 2 bolts on the sides of the table you loosen, then you adjust the table and tighten the bolts back down. But I can’t get the outfeed table to be coplanar with the infeed table. The infeed table is lower more towards the knives than at the far end. Also the problem I seem to be having is when face planing the middle of the boards are low when I put a straight edge across it. The same happens when I edge join. The middle on the board is low when looking at a straight edge. Maybe it is something I am doing wrong. I checked out the link bubinga posted and realized I am putting entirely too much pressure on the outfeed table. But Any advise on if it is my jointer causing the problem or my skills jointing would help.

You need to shim the outfeed table. It’s not really a shim but a piece of metal. You can get different thicknesses of brass to shim it with. If you get a new jointer I would recomend an 8” Parallelogram one.

Tim

-- Although the voices aren't real they have some pretty good ideas.

I would second Tim’s recommendation of a parallelogram table on a new jointer if that is the direction you go. I am also researching a new jointer….I have not yet decided….I do like the rigid….and I like the grizzly (I have 3 of their machines already and have had great results with their customer and tech support….once the machines were setup and adjusted….I have had no problems – 3yrs for the TS, 2 yrs for the Planer, 1.75 yrs for the Bandsaw – but who is counting).

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

There are a few articles on FWW on this subject. Here is a link to one of them. I had to shim my 6” jet before I upgraded and it worked great. I would try to shim your 8” before buying a 6”. You may regret buying the smaller size.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/FWNPDF/011079062.pdf
You may need a membership.

Tim

-- Although the voices aren't real they have some pretty good ideas.

I have 13 of grizzlys machines , my band saw is 15 years old and the only problem I had with it was the pully came lose on the motor about 3 years ago .,it still does any thing I ask of it.grizzly service is about the best you can get. they have always told me how to fix some thing if I thout I had a problem, by the way nomber 14 is ordered their new 10” surface sander.It is on back order because thr sold out faster than they had ever thout they would.good luck with ever dischion you make.
Chuck

-- Chuck, wiswood2 www.wisconsinwoodchuck.com

The Delta, DJ-20 8” , parallelogram, jointer I have now is a great jointer, Grizzly sells one very similar, if you really want a new one, and ,if its in your budget

-- E J ------- Always Keep a Firm Grip on Your Tool